Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Ducks Cap Memorable Weekend With Sweep
04/19/26 | Softball
After celebrating the anniversary of Jane Sanders Stadium and the program's 60th season earlier in the weekend, Oregon capped a sweep of Washington on Sunday.
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon softball provided a jubilant birthday party this weekend for Jane Sanders Stadium, which proved to be a house of horrors for the Huskies.
The No. 13 Ducks (35-9, 16-2 Big Ten) finished off a sweep of No. 23 Washington on Sunday, 3-1, handing the Huskies their third loss in Big Ten play this season — all at The Jane over the weekend. Oregon bolstered its case for hosting postseason play in a few weeks, and is now a game behind first-place Nebraska as the Ducks chase a second straight conference title.
"The sweep is big," said Elon Butler, who hit two solo homers Sunday. "It puts us in a great position to win the Big Ten. I'm so proud of this team, and just the way that we've grown and developed."
Butler homered in the third and fifth innings Sunday, and Lyndsey Grein (23-4) pitched five shutout innings in the circle. Amari Harper provided some insurance with a homer in the sixth, and yet another senior, Elise Sokolsky, threw the final two innings for her third save of the season.
"I just look at the senior class and what they're doing right now for the rest of our group, just the leadership and the high standard, and just bowing up to every moment and not having any bit of concern, I'm so proud of our seniors and I'm so proud of this group," UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "What an unbelievable weekend."
Shortly after hitting her home run, Harper received a "Golden Ticket" to the AUSL pro league in a postgame ceremony. Softball legend Natasha Watley was on hand to make the presentation, which included a video announcing Harper's honor that featured UO women's athletics legend Sabrina Ionescu.
"It was a shock," Harper said. "There were no words. It was always a possibility; I always knew that. But just knowing that it's a true opportunity now to put into play, it's indescribable."
How It Happened: Grein stranded three runners in scoring position over the first three innings to keep the game scoreless. Butler then led off the bottom of the third with her 13th homer of the season, after going 2-for-17 over the previous six games.
"I thought I was seeing the ball really well throughout the whole entire weekend," Butler said. "I just think I had to let it loose a little bit, and honestly, just trusting myself and trust in the work I put in."
Butler hit her second home run with two out in the fifth. At that point Grein had retired 10 in a row, before leaving the game after the first two runners of the sixth reached base.
Grein struck out 10 in Friday's series-opening win over the Huskies, pitched the first inning of Saturday's win and then helped finish off the sweep Sunday — handing the Huskies their first three losses in Big Ten play this season.
"For me, (I) approach everybody the same," Grein said. "Have respect for the opponent, but at the same time, everyone's going to get my best that I have for that day. So, respect all but fear none, and then just, foot on the gas. Doesn't matter who's in the box, it just matters what goes on between me and (catcher) Emma (Cox)."
Sokolsky came in with two on in the sixth and worked out of the jam. She struck out the final batter of the inning, after the first hitter she faced hit a liner back to Sokolsky, who caught it for the out and then threw to second to pick off the lead baserunner trying to get back to the bag.
"We talk a lot about all three cylinders, and when they fire, we're going to be extremely tough to beat," Lombardi said after a weekend of elite defense by the Ducks, along with tough hitting and pitching. "And you got to see that all weekend long with this group. Defense wins championships, and you got to see our defense just hold steady for us."
Harper then homered in the bottom of the sixth. That provided welcome cushioning when Washington hit a two-out solo homer in the seventh to break up the shutout.
Notable: The Ducks swept Washington for the first time since 2018, and did so in Eugene for the first time since 2014. … Butler now has 51 career home runs, and the multi-homer game was the fifth of her career. … Butler now has 33 extra-base hits, breaking the UO single-season record set last season by Kedre Luschar. In 2024, Ariel Carlson tied the 25-year-old existing school record with 31, and it's been broken each year since.
Up Next: The Ducks host Oregon State on Wednesday (6 p.m., B1G+).
The No. 13 Ducks (35-9, 16-2 Big Ten) finished off a sweep of No. 23 Washington on Sunday, 3-1, handing the Huskies their third loss in Big Ten play this season — all at The Jane over the weekend. Oregon bolstered its case for hosting postseason play in a few weeks, and is now a game behind first-place Nebraska as the Ducks chase a second straight conference title.
"The sweep is big," said Elon Butler, who hit two solo homers Sunday. "It puts us in a great position to win the Big Ten. I'm so proud of this team, and just the way that we've grown and developed."
Butler homered in the third and fifth innings Sunday, and Lyndsey Grein (23-4) pitched five shutout innings in the circle. Amari Harper provided some insurance with a homer in the sixth, and yet another senior, Elise Sokolsky, threw the final two innings for her third save of the season.
"I just look at the senior class and what they're doing right now for the rest of our group, just the leadership and the high standard, and just bowing up to every moment and not having any bit of concern, I'm so proud of our seniors and I'm so proud of this group," UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "What an unbelievable weekend."
Shortly after hitting her home run, Harper received a "Golden Ticket" to the AUSL pro league in a postgame ceremony. Softball legend Natasha Watley was on hand to make the presentation, which included a video announcing Harper's honor that featured UO women's athletics legend Sabrina Ionescu.
"It was a shock," Harper said. "There were no words. It was always a possibility; I always knew that. But just knowing that it's a true opportunity now to put into play, it's indescribable."
How It Happened: Grein stranded three runners in scoring position over the first three innings to keep the game scoreless. Butler then led off the bottom of the third with her 13th homer of the season, after going 2-for-17 over the previous six games.
"I thought I was seeing the ball really well throughout the whole entire weekend," Butler said. "I just think I had to let it loose a little bit, and honestly, just trusting myself and trust in the work I put in."
Butler hit her second home run with two out in the fifth. At that point Grein had retired 10 in a row, before leaving the game after the first two runners of the sixth reached base.
Grein struck out 10 in Friday's series-opening win over the Huskies, pitched the first inning of Saturday's win and then helped finish off the sweep Sunday — handing the Huskies their first three losses in Big Ten play this season.
"For me, (I) approach everybody the same," Grein said. "Have respect for the opponent, but at the same time, everyone's going to get my best that I have for that day. So, respect all but fear none, and then just, foot on the gas. Doesn't matter who's in the box, it just matters what goes on between me and (catcher) Emma (Cox)."
Sokolsky came in with two on in the sixth and worked out of the jam. She struck out the final batter of the inning, after the first hitter she faced hit a liner back to Sokolsky, who caught it for the out and then threw to second to pick off the lead baserunner trying to get back to the bag.
"We talk a lot about all three cylinders, and when they fire, we're going to be extremely tough to beat," Lombardi said after a weekend of elite defense by the Ducks, along with tough hitting and pitching. "And you got to see that all weekend long with this group. Defense wins championships, and you got to see our defense just hold steady for us."
Harper then homered in the bottom of the sixth. That provided welcome cushioning when Washington hit a two-out solo homer in the seventh to break up the shutout.
Notable: The Ducks swept Washington for the first time since 2018, and did so in Eugene for the first time since 2014. … Butler now has 51 career home runs, and the multi-homer game was the fifth of her career. … Butler now has 33 extra-base hits, breaking the UO single-season record set last season by Kedre Luschar. In 2024, Ariel Carlson tied the 25-year-old existing school record with 31, and it's been broken each year since.
Up Next: The Ducks host Oregon State on Wednesday (6 p.m., B1G+).
Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballMelyssa Lombardi | Postgame - Washington (Game 3)
Monday, April 20
Amari Harper | Postgame - Washington (Game 3)
Monday, April 20
Lyndsey Grein | Postgame - Washington (Game 3)
Monday, April 20
Elon Butler | Postgame - Washington (Game 3)
Monday, April 20
